When you have a family, you can’t spend 40 days in the desert by yourself, fasting and praying. Instead, you need to tailor your Lenten observance to your state in life. In her new book, Lenten Prayer for Families, Colleen Pressprich offers concrete ways to help your family live the three pillars of Lent — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — together.
A Devotional Based on Scripture
I cannot think of a better way to prepare hearts and minds for the joy of Easter than to spend Lent diving into the Living Word of God as a family, which is why Scripture is the heart of this devotional. (from the Introduction)
Colleen includes Scripture not only as a point of prayer and discussion, but also for memorization. Beginning with the First Sunday of Lent, a weekly memorization verse is highlighted; these verses correspond with the weekly themes, which include conversion of heart, prayer, repentance, reconciliation, and renewal and restoration. Learning these verses “by heart” is an excellent way to encourage your children to keep Scripture close to them, and in the Introduction, Colleen suggests multiple strategies for memorizing Scripture — even a way to make it a game!
Format of the Book
Each day’s entry includes four parts:
Brief Scripture passage
A reflection on the passage for the family to read together
Prayer
Conversation starters: two or three discussion questions
In addition, each day’s entry is accompanied by a beautiful full-page illustration by Amy Heyse.
The Introduction to the book includes suggestions for using these reflections with children of different ages, and ideas for tying each day’s prayer experience to something your family is already doing.
At the end of the book, a Notes for Parents section offers helpful background information, further reflection, and strategies for discussing difficult or challenging topics with your children.
Lenten Prayer for Families begins with Ash Wednesday and includes entries through Divine Mercy Sunday, the end of the Octave of Easter, as well as entries for the Solemnities of Saint Joseph and the Annunciation, both of which can fall during Lent. The book can be used during any year.
Lenten Prayer for Families is a useful resource for parents who want their families to prepare together for the joy of Easter.
Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to support my work when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you.
In January, I worked like crazy for the first three weeks so I could spent the next couple of weeks recovering from a total right knee replacement. I’d had the left knee replaced last July, and it didn’t seem like I was very able to concentrate on reading very much after that one, so I didn’t have very high expectations. However, my mind has been much clearer and my energy much better than after the first knee replacement, so I was able to enjoy several books and dip into a prayer book I’ll be reviewing before Lent.
The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:
Fiction
As a kid who grew up on The Wizard of Oz, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor. That surprised me, because I’m not usually a fanfic reader, but Gaynor did a masterful job in sharing Auntie Em’s backstory, including how Dorothy came to live with her and Uncle Henry. The novel is sprinkled liberally with Wizard of Oz Easter eggs, which were fun to find: 8-year-old Dorothy has a tiny toy tin man, a stuffed lion, and a straw doll, for example. Real historical events, such as the 1929 stock market crash and the Dust Bowl of the mid-1930s, play a major role in the story. The difficulties experienced in farming communities in Kansas during the 1930s were not glossed over. The way Gaynor worked in the witches and the Wizard was fascinating and extremely clever. Every detail in the book is true to history and to the L. Frank Baum novel or the movie.
Adriana Trigiani’s The View From Lake Como takes place in a part of New Jersey I’ve visited, so I could picture some of the places and even some of the people in this story. After Jess divorces the man everyone had always expected her to marry, she moves into her parents’ basement and thinks she’s at a dead end, doing everything for her family and even working in her uncle’s business. But when her uncle dies and leaves behind some shocking financial secrets, Jess travels to Italy to fulfill some business commitments and finds herself needing to decide what she really wants, and whether she has to keep living the way her family expects her to.
A friend recommended The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly, and I’m glad I picked it up. The book is told in a dual timeline (present day and 1942), but I really felt that the present-day plotline could have been dispensed with entirely. The 1940s part of the novel makes up the bulk of the story and could have stood alone. Two teenage girls in a farming family on Martha’s Vineyard faces challenges when their brother joins the Army and leaves them to handle the work, led by their ailing grandmother. They’re joined by their brother’s girlfriend, now pregnant, who comes from a privileged background and knows nothing of growing potatoes. Meanwhile, a nearby military base threatens the future of all the area farms, and there’s a real danger that a German spy is lurking within the community.
YA/Children’s
A novel in free verse, The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasmine Paulino, was a delight to read. I admit to hesitating when I found out about the format of the book, but I’m glad I decided to try the book anyway. Alex, who has some learning challenges, is in a self-contained classroom but really wants to study science with the rest of the seventh grade, because his goal is to work for NASA. Through courageous self-advocacy (both with his parents and the teachers and administration at his school) and his own hard work, he seeks to prove that he’s able to handle that science class, after-school clubs, and other things he’d always thought were closed to him. The story is told through Alex’s journal and some text messages with friends. Highly recommended for readers 10 and up, as well as for parents of students with special needs or learning differences.
Leslea Wahl’s The Ultimate Blindside continues the adventures of Jake and Sophie as they observe a movie being made about how they solved a mystery (the story told in The Perfect Blindside). Just as filming begins, a car drives into the on-location set and lands in a lake. Without hesitation, Jake rescues the young woman and her daughter who were in the car, and Sophie and Jake plot to help the mysterious woman who’s on the run and in danger. Meanwhile, both of them (together and separately) must navigate friend, former friend, and bully issues related to Jake’s career and Sophie’s association with him. As the two eventually face real danger to themselves when they seek to solve yet another mystery, they’re challenged to lean on the faith they share. (Review copy provided by the author.)
Nonfiction
If you were a fan of the Little House on the Prairiebook series and, particularly, the TV series, you’ll enjoy Allison Arngrim’s Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated. Arngrim famously portrayed the bully we all loved to hate, Nellie Oleson. This book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the Little House TV show, which was fun to read in itself, but it also is an examination of what it’s like to play a villain on TV (and the consequences, good and bad, for the actor when they’re out in public once they’ve played that role). It’s also a look at Arngrim’s early life and upbringing in Hollywood, which included challenges such as financial instability and recurrent sexual abuse. Language and content warning; this one’s not for the kids.
Just in time for Lent, TAN Books has released The Way of the Cross with the Saints. This small-format prayer book contains five versions of the Stations of the Cross, written by Saints Francis of Assisi, Alphonsus Liguori, and John Henry Newman, along with Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich and Venerable Mary of Jesus of Agreda. The Stations of the Cross is a beautiful devotion; it’s often prayed during Lent, but it can be prayed at any time, and it’s lovely to have options for prayers that resonate with you during different seasons. Stay tuned for my full review later this month at CatholicMom.com. (Review copy provided by the publisher.)
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heartand at CatholicMom.com!
Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: top copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved; bottom copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission
Books to give and books to get: Here are some of my favorite new books for all ages from Catholic authors.
Devotionals
Lisa M. Hendey has written a one-of-a-kind devotional in Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way: A Weekly Devotional. Lisa invites you to pray, sharing her thoughts on a Scripture passage and guiding you through a full week of mini-meditations in this comfortable, approachable, and beautifully designed yearly devotional. Start anytime! This book is perfect for the prayer beginner and anyone feeling too busy or overwhelmed to pray. It’s called a weekly devotional, but it’s structured so you can use it a little bit every day. I’ve already given away a copy of this wonderful book, published by Loyola Press.
Daily Devotions for Grandmothers is Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle at her gentle, encouraging best. This author is one I’ve followed for a good 20 years. Her earlier books were a great inspiration in the middle of my days of mothering little kids and teenagers. In this book, you’ll find 366 daily entries, each beginning with a Scripture verse or a quote from a saint or the Catechism. The daily entries also include a meditation (“Steep”), call to action, brief prayer, and an observation or affirmation to consider through the day (“Savor”). Bonus content includes the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, other prayers and litanies, and meditations for the Seven Sorrows Chaplet, which one of my own grandmothers used to pray — I now treasure her chaplet. (Review copy received from the publisher, Pauline Books & Media.)
New from Melanie Rigney, 12 Unforgettable Men of the Gospels: Reflections and Portraits of the Apostles is a combination Bible study, biographical look, and devotional about the twelve apostles (yes, including Judas: as Melanie comments, we can learn from him too). I’ve taken this book to Adoration with me; the questions to ponder that are found toward the end of each chapter lend themselves well to prayerful journaling. You can read through this book in any order; of course, I flipped stright to the entry for my favorite apostle, Thomas. Melanie offers new perspective on the apostles that’s not an excuse for bad behavior but a charitable explanation for why they might have spoken, reacted, and behaved as they did. Keep a Bible by your side as you read this book; you’ll need it! (Review copy received from the author)
Fiction
Stephanie Landsem’s latest novel, The Fault Between Us, is set in Yellowstone in 1959, when a severe earthquake and flood tore through the national park and surrounding area, leaving residents and visitors in peril (many of whom did not survive). Stephanie tells the story of three sisters, all young women who are already going through their own personal crises when the earthquake endangers them all. The second half of this book — the quake and its aftermath — was so intense that I felt like I was running on the adrenalin the characters must have been feeling as they struggled to live through the disaster. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and readers who enjoy visiting national parks.
For Teen Readers
Set in 18th-century Milan, Playing by Heart is a symphony of romance and faith with an undercurrent of social commentary. Will Maria and Emilia’s father sacrifice their futures on the altar of his own ambitions to join the noble class? Carmela Martino’s newly re-released novel for teen readers explores family ties, vocations, and discernment of the best ways to use God-given gifts. This historical novel is based on the lives of two sisters, Maria Gaetana Agnesi and Maria Teresa Agnesi, who were gifted in much the same ways as the characters Maria and Emilia are. In the novel, Maria is deeply religious; her only desire is to enter a convent so she can work to serve the poor. But her father is unwilling to give up the social advantages he believes he can gain by showing off Maria’s abilities in languages and mathematics, as well as her younger sister Emilia’s musical talents. This book is written for a YA audience; I’d recommend it for readers in high school and up, and adult readers as well. The story is intriguing and beautifully told, and really invites the reader into the world of the social climber in 18th-century Milan. This novel is a clean romance, steeped in history.
Books for Kids of All Ages
Perfect for middle-schoolers, Amy J. Cattapan’s middle-grade novel, 7 Riddles to Nowhere, centers on a cyber-scavenger hunt reminiscent of The Westing Game but with higher stakes: the survival of a beloved Catholic school. Kam, who suffers from selective mutism, and his friends are challenged by bullies as they make their way through unfamiliar neighborhoods, seeking clues in churches and racing against time to win an inheritance. This suspense-filled story was recently re-released with a brand-new cover design.
Are your children fascinated by our new pope? Colleen Pressprich has written OSV Kids Discover: The Pope in the style of those DK books that were all the rage when my kids were in school. The large-size book is packed with fun facts galore: the history of the papacy, how a pope is elected, the pope’s role as a world leader and the leader of the Church, what a pope wears, and more. It’s full of pictures, a new vocabulary word with a definition on every two-page spread, maps, and historical timelines. There’s plenty here to explore; this book will be read again and again! (Review copy received from the publisher)
In the new Caitlin and Peter’s Rosary Adventures series, Theresa Linden cleverly integrates some of my favorite characters from her West Brothers series (for teens) in a chapter book for young readers. Sharing the Sorrow is the second book in this series, and it focuses on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Caitlin and Peter return to the Holy Land in the time of Jesus and follow Him and the disciples from the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to Jesus’ Crucifixion. Along the way, they are challenged to ponder the virtue connected to each of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. When they discover the virtue connected to a particular Mystery, they are transported to the scene of the following Mystery, and finally back home where they must apply the lessons they have learned. (Review copy received from the author)
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Leslea Wahl’s new picture book, Bertie and the Mommy Mix-up, is a fun story for young children who love animals, especially birds. All the birds were invited to a springtime party, but Bertie, who was very busy reading and not expecting any baby birds this spring, didn’t even notice the invitation. Bertie loved reading and learning new things, and her friends didn’t seem to understand. While Bertie did join the party, afterward the eggs (which had been tended by Old Owl) hatched, but the baby birds didn’t seem to be in the right nests. Bertie uses the knowledge she has learned from books to match the baby birds to right mommy birds. Parents will enjoy the side comments from the squirrels who observe all the action, and kids will learn some fun facts about birds. (Review copy received from the author)
For the board-book crew, Our Sunday Visitor recently published My Catholic ABC and My Catholic 123, both by Alex DeRose and illustrated by Emma Walton. The items chosen to illustrate each letter and number run the gamut from expected (Aa, ark; Bb, Bible) to surprising (Mm, Miraculous Medal; Nn, Nativity), and there’s a cute nod to Advent with”4 candles.” Some of the numbered items, such as the candles and “9 angels” made sense, but others (8 lambs) seemed to be there to fill the space. This book set is a fun Catholic twist on alphabet and counting books for toddlers. (Review copies received from the publisher)
A Cookbook for the Whole Family
Open up a Catholic cookbook your whole family can enjoy together. The Catholic Kids’ Cookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly Food by Haley Stewart and Clare Sheaf, published by Word On Fire, includes 33 recipes to help your family celebrate the liturgical year — and as a bonus, encourages kids to develop their cooking skills.I love that this cookbook enables families to choose age-appropriate ways to introduce cooking skills to children. The book boasts clear instructions, difficulty ratings (easy, moderate, and difficult) for each recipe, and reminders to read the whole recipe first, gather up all ingredients, and clean up any messes. I also love that none of the recipes call for exotic or expensive ingredients. I can find everything I need to make any recipe in this cookbook in my local supermarket, which is not a gourmet supermarket by any stretch of the imagination.Each recipe presented comes with a brief introduction to the feast day or liturgical season to which it’s connected. There is also a two-page liturgical year timeline at the front of the book, so you can help your family learn where we are in the Church year at any given time. Each season is introduced with a brief essay that includes suggestions for activities families can enjoy together to celebrate that season. (Review copy received from the publisher)
Memoir
For years, I enjoyed a radio program on Sirius XM, hosted by Greg Willits and his wife, Jennifer. That was “appointment listening” for me in a time when satellite radio didn’t have an app I could use in the house to listen. Instead, I’d schedule my errand time so I’d be in the car when their show was on. Greg has gone through considerable struggles over the years, and details these in his new memoir, God Doesn’t Hate Me After All: Discovering Louis De Montfort’s Love of Eternal Wisdom. If you (like me) are intimidated by De Montfort, this book will ease you into his spiritual masterpiece, as it is interspersed with Greg’s own story, chapter by chapter, as well as included in the memoir sections. It’s not an easy book, but it’s honest and it’s powerful. (Review copy received from the publisher)
Coloring Book
For anyone who loves to relax by coloring and people who appreciate the art of quilting, Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has put together The Patron Saint Quilt Coloring Book, featuring 22 holy women. This perfect-bound book is designed to lie flat, and images are printed on only one side, so you can remove pages from the book if you wish to display them after you’ve colored. On the left-hand side, you’ll read a brief biography of a saint and be introduced to a quilt-block design relevant to that saint; on the right-hand side, you can color between 6 and 12 separate quilt blocks in that design. In addition to the Blessed Mother, saints include Saint Barbara, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Monica. I’ve already given a copy of this book as a gift.
For Wine Lovers
Emily Stimpson Chapman has written a new hardcover book that’s oversized enough to qualify as a coffee-table book, though it’s not two inches thick. Sacred Wine: The Holy History and Heritage of Catholic Vintners (Marian Press) details a dozen wineries in Italy, France, and Spain that grew from a faith background, many as monasteries. Take an armchair tour of the Southern European wine country and learn more about wines you might already be familiar with, and see photos of the wineries and the winemaking process. The book includes contact information about each winery in case you’d like to plan a visit or explore their websites. (Review copy received from publisher)
Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: Canva
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. I had a total knee replacement in mid-July, so I’ve had less time to read than I normally do, not to mention less capacity for reading anything heavy (though there are a couple of tougher books in this pile). And I’ll admit there’s been more time spent binge-watching HGTV, specifically Beachfront Bargain Hunt and old Flip or Flop.
Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading this summer (since I’m seriously behind in participating in Open Book):
Fiction
A new Maddie Evans novel, Hooked on the Heart, dropped last week and, as I told the author, it feels so good to fall into one of her books. If you like your rom-com with plenty of banter and characters you can’t help but like, this book is for you. Chef and restaurant owner Colin moves in downstairs from Natalie, a yarn store owner who insults his restaurant before knowing who he is, then misunderstands his comment about his apartment stove and decides it’s her mission to teach him to cook. Two more books are planned for the series, and I’ve already preordered those!
T.I. Lowe’s novel Lulu’s Cafe was not at all a light read, and at times it was difficult. All that said, it was an excellent story with a hopeful ending. On the run from a husband who violently abused her and locked her in a closet for days at a time, Leah winds up in a Southern town and is taken in by Lulu, a cafe owner who gives her a job and a place to stay. But Crowley, a local lawyer, is suspicious about Leah — and attracted to her enough to find out the truth about her past. Trigger warnings: graphic domestic violence.
If you like fun stories with lots of banter, I recommend A Very Terrible Text by Elana Johnson. Hillary mistakenly texts the neighbor she doesn’t get along at all with to ask for a date, thinking she’s messaging someone she’s been contacting on a new dating app. And then things snowball and she doesn’t know how to get out of it. This isn’t even a Grumpy/Sunshine story, since both main characters are grumpy! For extra fun, much of the banter is conducted via text message. It’s a hilarious, clean read, and you’re probably going to crave potatoes for a while during your book hangover.
I waited quite a while for my library’s copy of Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee, and it was definitely worth the wait. 23-year-old Rena wants to be a writer, but it’s 1936 and there are no jobs of any kind out there, much less writing jobs. A kind newspaper editor lets her know about a new WPA program that was assigning writers to interview former slaves about their life history. Rena meets the 101-year-old Frankie, who tells Rena the story of her life — which includes a horrifying revelation. Highly recommended.
YA/Children’s
Normally I don’t reach for vampire novels (or any other horror books, for that matter), but Pauline Books & Media sent me a beautiful review package for The Curse He Chose by Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP. When a book for kids, tweens, or teens comes my way, I take my responsibility seriously — is the book something I’d have encouraged my own kids to read at that age? There are many vampire novels out there for readers 14 and up, but very few Catholic ones. This book deals with questions of salvation, the presence of evil (and what we do about it), and the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It’s beautifully written, and a compelling story — and I will admit, so intense that I needed to switch to a lighter book after the sun went down! This is Book 1 in the In Aeternum series. If your teens want to read vampire novels, you can hand them this book without worrying about inappropriate content or anything that goes against the teachings of the Church. Bonus: there’s some gentle evangelization happening in there, too, in the novel itself and in the extra content at the end of the book: “Fact or Fiction?”, a prayer section, and a glossary of religious terms a reader might not know.
Nonfiction
Notre Dame football season started last night, and though the game didn’t end the way I’d hoped, it was still great to watch and I have high hopes for the season ahead. Father Nate Wills, C.S.C., chaplain for the team, has written Pray Like a Champion Today: Sacred Stories from the Sidelines of Notre Dame Football. In it, you’ll find prayers and football stories, but more than that, you’ll find testimony to the importance of prayer and presence, no matter what you’re doing. (Netgalley review)
Newly released from Pauline Books & Media, Daily Devotions for Grandmothers is Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle at her gentle, encouraging best. This author is one I’ve followed for a good 20 years. Her earlier books were a great inspiration in the middle of my days of mothering little kids and teenagers. In this book, you’ll find 366 daily entries, each beginning with a Scripture verse or a quote from a saint or the Catechism. The daily entries also include a meditation (“Steep”), call to action, brief prayer, and an observation or affirmation to consider through the day (“Savor”). Bonus content includes the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, other prayers and litanies, and meditations for the Seven Sorrows Chaplet (which one of my own grandmothers used to pray — I now treasure her chaplet). This book would make a terrific gift. I’m not a grandmother (but I hope to be one someday) and the publisher kindly sent a review copy.
Do you follow Babs on Instagram? (She’s on TikTok too, but I don’t use that app.) Babs is the Fun Grandma who shares cooking, parenting, and household tips with her followers, and she’s all about optimism, encouragement, and prioritizing family time. Every Day with Babs: 101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the Week,the second cookbook by Barbara Costello, is packed with terrific recipes, stories, and cooking tips. I love that the recipes come with photos of the finished dish. I borrowed this book from the library and made a list of at least 30 recipes I wanted to try — and that was enough to get me to buy my own copy and one for a friend. The price is great right now, $19 for a large, full-color hardback cookbook.
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Rose Sweet’s new book, My Type of Holiness,takes a fresh look at the age-old basics of temperament theory and connects it to our quest for sainthood. Our goal is Heaven, and God has given us the gifts to get us there — if only we can get out of our own way. (Review copy received from the publisher.) Read my full review.
In Real Moms of Real Saints, Colleen Pressprich takes a look at the real lives of mothers of saints, reassuring modern-day moms that there’s nothing picture-perfect about holiness. This encouraging book does not sugarcoat the struggles these strong women faced and is a refreshing change from books that portray saintly women as wearing halos during their earthly lives. A balm for any woman who’s doing her best to keep it together in challenging circumstances. I’m honored to have been asked to endorse this book.
And one I bought over the summer but haven’t read yet …
File this one under “You’ll know your friend is a Church geek when you see this on her coffee table”: Sacred Times: A Guide to the General Roman Calendar and the Table of Liturgical Days by Paul Turner, published by Liturgical Press. I’ve been interested in the liturgical calendar since high school, now that I think about it, so when I saw that this book had won a Catholic Media Award, it seemed only right that I get myself a copy. It’s all about how the liturgical calendar works and what prayers to use on what days. I don’t think I’ll be reading it cover to cover, but I’ve already used it to reference a couple of things.
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)
Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!
Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission
Summer is a great time to read new books! As a child, whenever I packed for summer vacation, the books were always the first things in my travel bag.
Introduce your children to a new author or a genre this summer with these books your family can enjoy together.
Nonfiction Picks for Summer
If I still had kids in elementary school, I’d hand them a copy of God Made That! Catholic Nature Field Guide by Kathleen M. Hoenke and William A. Jacobs (Pauline Books & Media) and send them out to the backyard. This book helps kids and families explore and learn about the world around them, with discussions of different environments such as deciduous forests, rainforests, grasslands, and deserts and what we can learn from creation. Seamlessly woven in are mini-biographies of saints who made an impact on scientific study and set an example in caring for creation. Readers will learn about the animals, birds, insects, trees, and plants found in various regions and environments, and they’re encouraged to take notes in a nature journal, share what they learn with others, and thank God for the world around them.
Children interested in the saints will enjoy Virtues of the Saints: 15 Heavenly Habits for Children by Father Donald Calloway, MIC and Patrick Hearn, illustrated by Adalee Hude (Marian Press). This book boasts beautiful art and introduces young readers to saints including Saint Joseph, Saint Peter, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, and Saint Joan of Arc — and the Blessed Mother as well. Each saint’s story ends with a prayer. This is not a picture book for toddlers; there’s a lot of text on these pages. I’d recommend it for children in grades 2 through 4 for independent reading, or kindergarten and up for read-alouds.
Families with small children will enjoy reading The Gospel of Luke for Little Ones, written by Sarah Beth Meyer and illustrated by Allison Hsu (Marian Press). Selected episodes from each chapter of Luke’s Gospel are retold in simple rhymes and illustrated with gentle watercolor depictions. A bonus page shows how Jesus prayed the psalms and offers a few verses to memorize.
Another cute picture book for the little ones is Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s I Can Pray Anywhere, illustrated by Jim Starr (OSV Kids). Two young children and their family are shown praying in many ways, including crossing the street on the way to church, before a meal, and even standing on their head! This sweet book encourages children to talk to God throughout their day, in thanksgiving, petition, and expressions of delight.
New Summer Fiction for All Ages
Planning a road trip? Leslea Wahl’s latest novel from Perpetual Light Publishing, A Summer to Treasure, tells the story of a three-generation family road trip, complete with a mystery for the three teens to solve! The last thing Luke, Celia, and Austin want is to be cooped up in an RV, far away from friends, fun, and reliable Wi-Fi … but when Grandma drops enough clues for them to believe she’s dying, they agree to re-create the national parks tour Grandma had taken with her own parents when she was young. Along the way, the teens get into some tight spots, but they learn a lot about friendship, helping each other, and staying true to yourself.
For middle-schoolers and teenagers, The Saint I Knew: Exciting “Encounters” with Holiness by Kevin Wilson (Marian Press) offers ten short stories in which the narrator meets a saint-to-be at a young age. Get to know saints like Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, Maximilian Kolbe, André Bessette, Carlo Acutis, and five others in a new and interesting way! Bonus information at the end of the book includes brief stories of the miracles that helped to elevate these individuals to canonization. This book would make a great gift for a teen preparing for Confirmation next year.
Lindsay Schlegel has taken my very favorite Saint Thérèse quote and built an entire picture book, God’s Little Flowers,around it! This picture book (OSV Kids), with its simple and cheerful illustrations by Joy Laforme, shines a light on the truth we need to share with all the children in our lives: each of us is uniquely gifted by God and has something special to share with the world — and all our gifts are important! Lindsay also stresses that not all gifts are as obvious as skill at a particular sport, art, or music. Share this book with a young girl you know, and help her identify her own gifts and those of the people special to her!
Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images created in Canva
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to me when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:
Currently in progress (and highly recommended):
The King’s Curse, historical fiction by Philippa Gregory. From the summary on Amazon: As an heir to the Plantagenets, Margaret is seen by the King’s mother, the Red Queen, as a rival to the Tudor claim to the throne. She is buried in marriage to a Tudor supporter — Sir Richard Pole, governor of Wales—and becomes guardian to Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. But Margaret’s destiny, as cousin to the White Princess, is not for a life in the shadows. Tragedy throws her into poverty, yet a royal death restores her to her place at young Henry VIII’s court where she becomes chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. There she watches the dominance of the Spanish queen over her husband and her tragic decline.
Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ by Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP (Pauline Books & Media). I’m just getting started with this book, but I’m already seeing a difference. From the publisher’s summary: Do you ever feel sluggish, anxious, or overwhelmed after too much screen time? Does media leave you feeling disconnected from God? Recharge your spiritual life and find freedom and peace with Media Fasting, a six-week journey to grow closer to God and develop a Christ-centered strategy for your media use. Evaluate your current media habits; create your own media fasting plan; and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ through daily devotional readings, reflection questions, and prayers.
Nonfiction:
A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me toBe a Badass Age with Grace by Maria Morera Johnson (Ave Maria Press). Women in all stages of life will find encouragement and inspiration in this new book that intersperses the stories of saints and holy women with tales from the author’s own life. You’ll want to binge-read this one, but I encourage you to take it slowly and consider the questions at the end of each chapter for journaling or discussing over coffee with a friend or three. This is a follow-up to My Badass Book of Saints but can be read on its own.
Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica by Joan Watson (Ave Maria Press). If you’re looking for a wonderful way to mark the Jubilee of Hope, I highly recommend this book. I knew there was a Holy Door in Rome but was unaware that it’s comprised of a series of bronze images that depict the salvation story. Joan Watson offers guided reflections on 12 of these images. The book includes large photos of each image featured so readers can closely examine it as they read the reflections, delve into Scripture, and then respond in faith. I read this book in the Adoration chapel over a series of weeks. (Review copy received from publisher.)
Fiction:
The Bennetts Bloom by Katie Fitzgerald. I’ve been reading this novel in bits and pieces for a couple of years now. The author, Katie Fitzgerald, first presented this book as microfiction on Instagram, and I (and many other readers) were hooked by the story of a fairly oblivious widowed dad of a toddler and his sweet single neighbor. Everyone knows where Fern and Dave’s story is going long before Dave does, and that’s what makes the ride so worth it. Katie eventually compiled all the stories in chronological order into a novel told in moments. This sweet romance is sure to make you smile.
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh is a fun read about a young woman who thinks that rerouting her life means she’s giving up her dreams. Rosie wants to be a Broadway star, but several years in, she’s behind on rent and getting nowhere. Desperation leads her to apply for jobs without thoroughly reading the descriptions, and this lands her a summer gig as a theatre director in what turns out to be a luxury retirement community in Wisconsin. Of course there’s a love interest in this clean romance, but the real fun comes with the quirky side characters who help Rosie realize what it means to live your dream, as well as her talented troupe of friends who show just how much they believe in her. This story will make your day. (Netgalley)
Book 3 in the Sons of Scandal series is Uneasy Street by Becky Wade. Former best friends and business partners Max and Sloane parted ways four years ago, but they’re thrown together again when Sloane returns to Max’s hometown to care for her teenage niece for a few months. Realizing to her horror that she’d rented an apartment from her nemesis Max, Sloane tries to ignore the sparks (which, of course, her niece delightedly encourages) while Max attempts to pull strings to force her to spend time with him. I’m not the biggest fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and honestly, I didn’t appreciate Max’s underhanded tactics, but this author does tell a good story. (Netgalley)
Young Adult:
Book 3 in Leslea Wahl’s Finding Faith series, In Plain Sight, revolves around a couple of mysteries: what’s up with the secret passages and hidden doorways in an old lodge Emerson’s dad is renovating — and what happened to Em’s mother and sisters? It’s clear that Em has suffered a great loss and that she’s to blame; lonely and bored, she finds herself caught up in figuring out the history behind the old building her father is working on, enjoying the company of a few new friends she can’t completely confide in, and finding out that the lodge owner’s teenage son is as interested in her as she is in him. This story features characters from the other two books in the series but definitely works as a standalone.
Bad Influence by Claire Ahn takes a look at the decidedly unglamorous world behind social-media influencer beauty in this story of a Korean-American high-school student who secretly aspires to be an influencer but hides her work from her parents, lying to them about the source of the money she hands over to help the household after her father’s work accident. Charlotte soon learns how quickly online fans can turn against someone when they give in to temptation to represent a brand that’s tainted by rumors of hate, and how much her own hunger to be liked by strangers online has risked her own friendships, family life, and more. Recommended for high-school students. (Netgalley; releases April 29, 2025)
Children’s Books:
God’s Little Flowers by Lindsay Schlegel; illustrated by Joy Laforme (Our Sunday Visitor) is a sweet introduction to a beloved saint. I love that Lindsay Schlegel has taken my very favorite Saint Thérèse quote and built an entire storybook around it! This picture book, with its simple and cheerful illustrations, shines a light on the truth we need to share with all the children in our lives: each of us is uniquely gifted by God and has something special to share with the world — and all our gifts are important! Lindsay also stresses that not all gifts are as obvious as skill at a particular sport, art, or music. Share this book with a young girl you know, and help her identify her own gifts and those of the people special to her! (Review copy received from publisher)
Theresa Linden’s Jumping into Joy cleverly integrates some of my favorite characters from Theresa’s West Brothers series in a chapter book for young readers. Caitlin encourages her friend Peter to use his imagination during the family Rosary to keep from falling asleep; as she demonstrates this, the children pass through a portal into the ancient town of Nazareth and seek to discover the virtues attached to the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. This book would make a great classroom read-aloud for children in first through third grades.
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!
Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved; Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission
The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading:
Christmas (which deserves its own category at this time of year)
This brand-new Christmas novel has it all: a couple who broke up but never fell out of love, a beautiful and talented villain who wants to break them up for good, and a small town with enough Christmas festivals on the calendar to leave Santa too tired to make his Christmas-Eve rounds. And it’s all tied up in a ribbon of faith. This short, sweet romance is the perfect accompaniment to fireside cookies and hot chocolate. (Advance copy provided for review)
Set on a Christmas tree farm, this grumpy/sunshine novel brings together childhood crushes Liam and Olive, who were separated in middle school when Liam’s family moved to the tree farm. Now the farm is to be sold, and Olive’s been hired to help make the last Christmas at the farm a magical one — but Liam has never felt the magic and definitely doesn’t want to. Instead, he focuses on the beautiful artwork Olive had created but hadn’t been able to sell when she opened a small business.
by Jaycee Weaver, Cathe Swanson, Chautona Hauvig, and Teresa Tisinger
So far I’ve only read the first book in this box set, and I don’t believe the novellas are connected. Cooking up Christmas by Jaycee Weaver. I lost track of the number of coincidences in this story, but that was part of its charm rather than being an annoyance. This delightful novella features an overwhelmed restauranteur and a young woman who’d left town years before after failing to live up to her parents’ high expectations. The two fall for each other but try to keep it platonic while planning an anniversary party for a couple who owns a tree farm and do everything Christmas-related in the most over-the-top way possible. I look forward to the other stories in this set. (UPDATED to add: these are Christian novellas, and I’m up to the fourth one now. One of the stories had an unnecessary slam on Catholics, which was not appreciated.)
This story was extra fun because it includes hilarious 12-year-old twins. Their single mom, Melody has a crush on Jonathan, the school principal, and even though she can’t cook a thing and doesn’t have the time for this, she takes over a series of baking-themed events as a school fundraiser after the local Queen Bee Mom bails out. This soon becomes a bake-off between Melody and Jonathan, even as events are sabotaged and it looks like one of Melody’s sons is involved. I got a big kick out of the kids.
I don’t think I’d every read a book set in a pizza shop before. Ezra has been running a pizza shop for years, but the absentee owner has just delegated his niece to take over … and that doesn’t sit well with someone who’s happy keeping things just the way they are. As Lacey seeks to innovate to improve business at Loveless Pizza, Ezra digs in his heels because he’s afraid of hurting the business. Maddie Evans writes some of the best banter out there, and this story is no exception. Warning: you will want pizza while reading this book.
I don’t usually read speculative fiction, but how could I resist a novel set in one of my favorite kinds of places: a library? This is a beautifully written book that immediately drew me in despite my hesitancy about the genre. Adelina and Leon live in a world of magic, but not everyone in that world has magical gifts. Adelina does not, but she works in a library that houses all the spells in the world. Leon is a student at the university and must come up with an original final project that incorporates his magical gifts. When Adelina steps into the forbidden magical section of the library to return a misshelved spell, she encounters mysterious creatures who seek to protect the library and its visitors from dangerous magic. Leon begins to act as a go-between to keep a power-hungry king and his followers from accessing magic that could imperil the whole nation. If you’ve never read a novel in this genre before, don’t let that stop you! (Advance review copy provided by the publisher)
There’s nothing I enjoy more than a nice 350-page novel, but Katie Fitzgerald has a real way with short stories, including really short stories, and I admire her ability to set a scene in a small space. There are six short stories in this collection, all library themed. Grab this one for your Kindle, and enjoy these fun episodes when you have only a few free moments to read.
(Full disclosure: I edited this book, as well as two others in the series.) Hillary Ibarra is an exceptional storyteller and makes the reader feel as if they’re right there with the family of six in 1970s rural Tennessee. As autumn comes to Johnson Creek, the family prepares for winter and hardworking parents Jack and Karen agree to help a neighbor and find themselves trying to broker a reunion among estranged members of the neighbor’s family, unwittingly becoming separated from their own children as a storm threatens to keep them apart for Thanksgiving. This book is the last in a series, but you can read it as a standalone.
YA/Children’s
The Devil’s Ransom (Harwood Mysteries Book 6)
by Antony Barone Kolenc
The stakes couldn’t get higher in The Devil’s Ransom, the final book in the Harwood Mysteries series by Antony Barone Kolenc: Xan is now a married man, on a dangerous journey and responsible for not only his wife, but his friend Lucy and her hapless brother. His objective is to rescue his uncle, who’s been captured by the Moors, and return to England to reboot his uncle’s merchant trade. This time, he’s not going to be rescued by his uncle, Lucy’s father, or one of the monks who raised him after he was orphaned. This time, he’s on his own. (Advance review copy received from author.)Read my full review.
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!
Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission
The stakes couldn’t get higher in The Devil’s Ransom, the final book in the Harwood Mysteries series by Antony Barone Kolenc: Xan is now a married man, on a dangerous journey and responsible for not only his wife, but his friend Lucy and her hapless brother. His objective is to rescue his uncle, who’s been captured by the Moors, and return to England to reboot his uncle’s merchant trade. This time, he’s not going to be rescued by his uncle, Lucy’s father, or one of the monks who raised him after he was orphaned. This time, he’s on his own.
“No one can face down a pack of demons alone.” (110)
The lesson Xan needs to learn, though, is that he’s not on his own anymore. He is responsible for the safety of others, and he can’t simply act on his own impulses without considering the consequences.
That’s really what a coming-of-age story is about: acting like the adult you’ve become, whether you want to or not, whether you feel ready or not.
Readers will find elements of this story reminiscent of the Gospel stories of the legion of demons that possessed a man and were eventually cast out by Jesus, entering a herd of swine and causing them to run over the side of a cliff to their deaths.
Parents and teachers will appreciate the two-page readers guide, “How to read historical fiction,” at the front of the book, and the author has also provided a map of Xan’s world, a glossary of religious and historical terms, and an author’s historical note that explains Church and feudal practices of that time and place, as well as offering historical context about the Crusades. These bonus materials have been included with each book in the series and are informative and useful without being condescending.
The Devil’s Ransom is best enjoyed as part of the six-book series, but Kolenc skillfully provides enough background information that a reader new to the series can jump in anywhere.
As with many series that begin with characters who are 10 or 11 years of age, the later books in the Harwood Mysteries seem more geared toward younger teen readers than middle-grade. I’d recommend this book (and books 4 and 5) for readers 12 and up; the first three books in the series are fine for middle-grade readers and up.
Want to catch up on the other books in the series?
The virtue of integrity is central to Shadow in the Dark, as Xan and his friends discover which of the people around them are who they say they are — and who can be trusted. In this story, Xan is taken in at a monastery after his village is burned down and his parents killed; Xan has little memory of the tragedy and does not know who he is. This mystery story provides a fascinating glimpse inside the feudal world and the monastic life during the Middle Ages.
The Haunted Cathedral, Book 2, contains fictional characters and events set in a historical place and time. Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral, both of which figure in the story, were constructed about a century before the story takes place — and parts of these buildings still stand today. And you’ll find no spoilers here, but a significant event in the story was actually recorded in history! When Xan is forced to travel to the city of Lincoln with Carlo, who was involved in Xan’s parents’ death, he faces multiple obstacles that challenge him to forgive—and he learns firsthand the consequences for himself and others when he withholds forgiveness.
In The Fire of Eden, an accident causes John, who’s been Xan’s nemesis in the monastery for quite some time, to lose his sight. Angry at his sudden dependence on those around him, John is more cruel than ever, but Xan is forced to cooperate with him as they seek to solve the mystery of a missing precious ruby belonging to a young monk who’s about to be ordained to the priesthood. Along the way, they encounter dishonest monks, traitorous guards, and a frightening magician who lives in the woods.
In The Merchant’s Curse, Xan and his companions progress through their teen years, the challenges they face — both in their faith and in their struggle to protect themselves and those they love from the very real threats they experience—have ever-higher stakes. In this story, Xan’s uncle William, who has provided him with both meaningful work and shelter, comes under threat when his business partner becomes deathly ill. His partner’s nephew, Nigel, blames the illness on a curse from a woman reputed to be a witch, but evil also seems to be lurking around William’s shop in the form of a group of thugs, and Nigel furthers the danger by befriending an enemy of the king.
In Murder at Penwood Manor, Xan seeks to exonerate a crusader who has returned from the Holy Land and is now accused of the murder of a romantic rival. He is accompanied in his quest to save Laurence the crusader by two young women, one in formation at a local abbey and another who appears to be his love interest. Xan, Lucy, and Christina all have a lot to lose by standing up for Laurence in front of the sheriff and the townsfolk, all of whom are ready to see him put to death. Lucy even risks her religious vocation by disobeying her superiors and leaving the monastery to help solve the mystery behind the murder that opens the story.
Ask for The Devil’s Ransom at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Loyola Press.
Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you.
by Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner, Antony B. Kolenc, Theresa Linden, Marie Keiser, T. M. Gaouette
Published by Catholic Teen Books
Shadows: Visible and Invisible, the newest story anthology from Catholic Teen Books, is a must-read for teens during the spooky season. With powerful tales ranging from historical fiction to contemporary stories to sci-fi and speculative fiction, the authors gently nudge readers to appreciate the importance and efficacy of praying for souls at all times of year.
These are powerful stories. There’s definitely suspense, but readers won’t experience the kind of terror they may feel when reading secular horror books. Because each author carefully and gently makes the connection to the true origins of the Hallowtide triduum (All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween as it is now known, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day), the reader is left not with unsettling despair, but instead comforted that our prayers for souls — even the souls of people we don’t know — can and do make a difference.
What I love about the story anthologies from Catholic Teen Books is the variety of genres included in each volume, and the opportunity to get to know characters from the authors’ longer works. While all the stories in this book are standalones, many have a connection to other books by these authors, which make books like this an excellent introduction to the novels and novellas by the featured authors. A short story is also a great opportunity to try a new genre!
Enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book and some Shadows swag! (US entries only)
From the publisher:
This fall, discover the true origins of Halloween and how your prayers can assist those in Purgatory.
Catholic Teen Books is excited to share its third anthology, Shadows: Visible & Invisible. This collection of short stories by 7 different authors is centered around the All Hallowtide Triduum of All Hallows Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These fictional stories are meant to help teens learn more about the history of these important days on the Church calendar through engaging tales.
What’s in this book?
Shadows: Visible & Invisible by Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner, Antony B. Kolenc, Theresa Linden, Marie Keiser, T. M. Gaouette.
Grace doesn’t know what it means to go “souling,” but she certainly wasn’t expecting it to be like this!
A storm drives William and his friends inside the dark church for shelter. Are animals making noises in the loft or is it something more sinister?
Trapped in the mountains by a blizzard and a pack of T. rex, Darryl, Joshua and Harry’s All Hallows’ Eve is looking dangerous enough–even before things take an eerie turn.
A medieval girl in a nunnery struggles with conflicts when another novice breaks her vows on the day of All Souls, revealing a shocking secret.
Vanessa doesn’t need anyone’s help, and she sets out to prove it by going alone to investigate strange lights in the cemetery.
When you live on a spaceship like Philip does, visiting the cemetery to pray for the dead always comes with the risk of joining them.
It’s another All Hallowtide, and on this All Soul’s Day, a young man finds himself at the cemetery yet again, but he’s not alone. Will tonight be the night, or will the torment continue?
Copyright 2024 Barb Szysziewicz
Images courtesy of CatholicTeenBooks.com, all rights reserved, used with permission
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
The first Wednesday of each month, Carolyn Astfalk hosts #OpenBook, where bloggers link posts about books they’ve read recently. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading during July:
A split-time romance centered around a roller-skating rink on the Florida coast. The rink’s mysterious origins set it apart in the small town, and it’s always been a haven in the community, but 1980s developers threaten to raze it so they can build high-rise beach condos. A hotheaded Hollywood celebrity returns to help his grandmother, Tuesday, save the rink and strikes up a romance with a former supermodel who wants to escape her painful past. My favorite part of this book was the 1930s storyline, in which Tuesday struggles to run the rink and raise two boys on her own while her husband disappears for weeks at a time — denying (without much success) that he’s involved in any criminal activity.
Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her life on hold for 10 years to care for her brain-injured dad and support her sister until graduation, so she takes the chance to cowrite a screenplay for a famous Hollywood writer whose writer’s block is likely due to a project outside his usual genre. What’s an action-adventure writer doing writing a rom-com? That’s complicated, but entertaining, as is the cast of characters populating this story.
Saintly inspiration and friendship for independent readers! Maria Riley’s Adventures with the Saints series gives young readers a chance to meet the saints, up close and personal, as they explore ways to handle real-life situations. These books are just right for the beginning chapter-book reader and make excellent read-alouds in the home or classroom. This installment highlights a courageous young saint who serves as an example to kids who experience or witness bullying. https://amzn.to/3AbF6J6
When 12-year-old Sam, who’s been raised without stability, faith, or friendship, has to move in with the neighbors after a tragic accident, she finds out what family life, friendship, and faith are all about. While the situation in this YA novel is a little far-fetched, Sam believably struggles with the emotional conflict she feels when she compares her life at home to her stay with the Howard family — and deals with the crush she has on their teenage son (it’s mutual, by the way).
Sequel to 6 Blocks Home. This might be the first novel I’ve read with a pandemic setting; I’d wondered how long it would take for that to filter into fiction. In this story, Evie is a talented violinist who’s a little spooked when she and a friend spot a teenager who looks like Evie’s younger self. As she struggles with her romantic feelings toward her longtime friend Finn, Evie must find a way to stop running from her problems, and eventually she’s dramatically confronted with an unexpected truth: she has a sister who shares her musical abilities. I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series, and it can be read as a standalone; the author did a great job filling in the background info without boring the reader. (Review copy)
This book was written for families to enjoy together, but older children, teens, or adults can still benefit from reading it on their own. Heidi has collected the stories of 40 people and events that highlight the graces and miracles that have resulted from deep devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Parents with sensitive children will appreciate content warnings about martyrdom stories. Heidi combines masterful, compelling storytelling with historical information and food for family conversation and prayer in this lovely book designed to encourage Eucharistic devotion through the domestic church.
Links to books in this post are Amazon affiliate links. Your purchases made through these links support Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!
Where noted, books are review copies. If that is not indicated, I either purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library.
Follow my Goodreads reviews for the full list of what I’ve read recently (even the duds!)
Visit today’s #OpenBook post to join the linkup or just get some great ideas about what to read! You’ll find it at Carolyn Astfalk’s A Scribbler’s Heart and at CatholicMom.com!
Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images copyright 2023 Carolyn Astfalk, all rights reserved, used with permission
